<p>Hey everyone! I posted this in the UMich forum to see if any of you would be familiar with my new high school and thus could further help me out. Please read all of this.</p>
<p>I spent my whole educational career at a Detroit school district. From preschool to 9th grade. As you may know, it wasn't a good school district AT ALL. I barely had to study for an upcoming test (even for just 5 minutes) and could easily score an A+. Though, I took basic grade level classes due to no honors or AP. My teachers were lazy so I had to self-study every day. My GPA was consistently a 3.8 (grade inflation). The summer after finishing up my freshman year, my parents found a home and we moved to Northville. Right now I'm about to finish up my sophomore year at Northville High School. Honestly, this school is FILLED with rich, very competitive, super-intelligent, extracurricularly active students. This was the complete opposite version of me back in Detroit. Also, the workload here is MUCH harder. Even the basic grade level classes are hard. This was my sophomore year schedule. I'll be taking more AP classes junior year.</p>
<p>Biology I: C+
APUSH: C+
Geometry: B
Spanish 3: A
Personal Fitness: A
American Literature: A</p>
<p>My GPA? 3.3W :( I study for hours on tests and still score 60%s while my friends barely study and score 90%s. On the bright side, the teachers are very intelligent and helpful. In one year, I understood the Spanish language more and took the AP exam (why not?). I was surprised by how easy it was for me. Same with the APUSH exam. </p>
<p>Anyway, uMich (computer science) is my dream school and they only look at 3.7> GPAs. I don't understand why I'm doing so bad no matter how hard I try.</p>
<p>I think this is actually pretty common when students move to a tougher academic environment (especially common during college freshman year).</p>
<p>My advice is to look into how you’re studying and not just how long you’re studying. I learned a lot of bad habits through the years that I had to unlearn - the biggest being not trying to multi-task while studying. If you tend to study while FBIng, watching TV, etc. - stop and focus! You can’t get away with that in a more rigorous environment.</p>
<p>The other is to learn how to lean onto your teachers after class for additional help - if you go up to them after class and ask for some time on how to master certain concepts, etc. they’re usually more than willing to help.</p>
<p>I would focus on improving your study habits and doing well in the classes you are taking in high school rather than worrying about U-M. If U-M is meant to be, then it is meant to be. If not, you can make the most of an opportunity the presents itself somewhere else. The pressure in 10th grade just isn’t worth it. And if you think Northville High School is too rigorous then U-M may not be the right place for you and that is OK.</p>
<p>Maybe you were not ready for APs - they are meant to be college level. Your Cs were in content heavy classes so you have to learn how to keep up by reading the material before class, asking questions during or after class, taking good notes and reviewing right after class. Make sure you understand what is expected in the assignments and quizzes. Don’t be shy about getting extra help from teachers. You may have foundation gaps but if you seek help I am sure you’ll get it.</p>
<p>You can improve your math with free online tutorials from Khan Academy.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about what Gpa colleges would like to see. Get the most out of your classes and you’ll have the foundation to succeed in a college that will accept you. The college application essays will give you a chance to explain your Gpa.</p>
<p>Well this new school is much stronger than your old school. Look at how your studying, if you’re studying for hours and hours and are still getting poor grades, something isn’t right with how you study.</p>
<p>I had a similar experience going from a poor hs to UM. You’d be surprised how well you can do if you work at it and if you learn how to study. That’s an art in itself. That’s the main thing kids like that get from their parents, knowing what to study and what not. Oftentimes in the sciences, you need to review numerous times before getting it. Read, try problems, read again, do problems again. After a while, it clicks. I like the advice others gave you here. Don’t multi-task, get help from your teachers. Also don’t be intimidated by rich snobs and their competitiveness. </p>
<p>Ever hear the one about the kid from Jersey City on his first day at Princeton. He walks up to a preppie and asks, “Can you tell me where the library’s at?” Says the preppie, “At Princeton we don’t end a sentence with a preposition.” “Oh sorry”, says the kid from Jersey City. “Can you tell me where the library’s at, moron?”</p>
<p>Don’t be intimidated.</p>